Have your voice heard!

Wouldnâ€™t it be nice to have your voice heard in a discussion of the top 100 works you like and for you to tell us who your favourite South African artists are? Watch this space...

Joshua Bell on track

The main story in the new Concerto (click here) tells you more about Joshua Bell. Get your tickets now for his concerts on August 26 and 27 at the City Hall. Heâ€™ll play the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Bernhard Gueller will be on the podium, directing the CPO in the Beethoven Leonore Overture and the Mendelssohn Symphony no 4 in A, â€œItalianâ€. Tickets from R180 to R550 from Computicket 0861 915 8000 and Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421-7695. Enquiries: luvuyo@cpo.org.za / 021 410 9809. More concert details here.

Live music calms Patients

According to a study in Musicae Scientia, live music calms patients down and takes their mind off their woes and how late their appointment is running. Letâ€™s hope that South African doctors with busy practises start hiring musicians!

The season opens with the world premiere of a new work by the Cape Town-born composer, Laura Stevens. Long Walk is an abbreviated tone poem paying homage to Nelson Mandela: the leader; the idealist, and also the person. And hereâ€™s what Ms Stevens has to say:
â€œLong Walk was commissioned by SAMRO as part of its Young Composerâ€™s Orchestral Programme and I convey my sincere thanks to Allan Stephenson for his mentorship and guidance in the production of this work.
A grand, brass-heavy first theme conjures a funeral dirge of sorts, but is peppered with flashes of dissonance and instability, alluding to turbulence, both personal and political. This is followed by a quick and spirited second theme evoking a â€œflash backâ€ to childhood and early adulthood; a musical depiction of an idealistic youth, magnifying the notion of Mandela the human (and not just the figurehead we know today). While the second theme is playful and animated, the ostinato texture that bubbles beneath it is an altered quotation from Gustav Holstâ€™s â€œJupiterâ€: a hint at future greatness; an astronomical giant foreshadowing a giant among men.Read more here.

On June 18, Victor Yampolsky will conduct the first of his two concerts, this one with French violinist Olivier Charlier in the Third Violin Concerto by Mozart. Yampolskyâ€™s second concert is the Klatzow celebration. If you subscribe, you have the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Primakov-Lavrova Cape Town Concert Series two-piano recital on October 24 at the Baxter Concert Hall. Become a member of the Friends and save an additional 10 per cent to add to the 20 per cent offered to subscribers. Get your seats at Computicket or call Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695 now. More details here.

Maria makes her home in Europe

Itâ€™s good news for great South African clarinettists for the CPOâ€™s principal clarinet position is open. Itâ€™s sad news for us, since Maria du Toit has decided that her future lies in Europe and has resigned. After her marriage last July to conductor Arjan Tien, she took a yearâ€™s sabbatical. We wish her all the best as she furthers her career in Europe and thank her for her years with the CPO. The position is open to South Africans only, and they must have a minimum of tertiary-level clarinet studies. Professional orchestra experience is an advantage. Key responsibilities are to play in all orchestra performances and be involved with the CPO outreach and education projects. Pass this on to anyone you think may be a candidate â€“ whatâ€™s required is a short CV faxed to 021 425 1009 or emailed to ivan@cpo.org.za by May 18. Short-listed clarinettists will be invited to audition.

Friends making friends

The Friends of Orchestral Music, the CPOâ€™s sterling supporters, recently announced their own sterling supporters, those whose support both in terms of active involvement with or substantial financial support has been superb. To recognize the role they played in helping the Friends reach their goals, they awarded lifetime Honorary Membership of the Friends to:
Ruth Allen, Shirley Parkfelt, Gaby Dahl, Peter Klatzow, Bernhard Gueller, Ton Vosloo and Gerlinde Moser.
The CPO adds its congratulations!

People of note

Tune in to FMR on May 17 and hear Rodney Trudgeon interview Derek Auret, and the following week on May 24 you can hear his interview with Faan and Kim Malan, both at 18:00. Derek is chairman of the Friends of Orchestral Music and prior to that had a life in the diplomatic corps and more. Faan is the conductor of the CPYO Wind Ensemble and both he and Kim teach at the CPO Academy. Interviews are repeated the Thursday at 13:00 after the news following the original broadcast.

CPO's supporting role

The musicians had an early holiday this year to enable them to have a break before several big supporting roles they will play in between concert seasons in June and October/November, with Joshua Bell in between. Supporting opera and ballet is a cornerstone of the CPOâ€™s commitment to the cultural life of Cape Town.

May 19 â€“ 24: Swan Lake at Artscape Opera House with the St Petersburg Ballet

June 27 â€“ July 12: Spartacus, Veronica Paeperâ€™s ballet, at Artscape Opera, re-choreographed and featuring the music of Khachaturian.

July 12 â€“ 24: Gilbert and Sullivanâ€™s Mikado at Artscape Theatre

July 23 â€“ August 23 â€“ Bernsteinâ€™s Westside Story at Artscape Theatre